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George Washington | Lesson One
For Lesson One: Honor and Passion for Glory:
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Scroll Down to view the text of this document.NOTE: This is an excerpt. The full text version of Letter from George Washington to Robert Orme, April 2, 1755 is in George Washington Papers, 1741-1799.
The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, Editor.--vol. 01
Mount Vernon, April 2, 1755.
Dear Sir: The arrival of a good deal of Company (among whom is my Mother, alarm'd with the report of my attending your Fortunes) prevents me the pleasure of waiting upon you to day as I intended;78 therefore I beg you'll be kind enough to make my compliments and excuse to the Genrl., who I hope to hear is greatly recover'd from his indisposition; and recruited sufficiently to prosecute his journ'y. to Annopolis.
[Note 78: General Braddock landed in Virginia on February 20. The transports with the British troops, who were to act under him, came into the Chesapeake soon afterwards. ...
Since his resignation in October, Colonel Washington had remained inactive at Mount Vernon. General
Braddock, knowing his value and the importance of securing his services to the expedition, directed Mr.
Orme, his aide-de-camp, to write to him the following letter, the original of which is in the Washington
Papers, proposing an expedient by which the chief obstacles of rank would be removed.
"Williamsburg, 2 March, 1755.
"Sir: The general, having been informed that you expressed some desire to make the campaign, but that
you declined it upon some disagreeableness that you thought might arise from the regulations of
command, has ordered me to acquaint you, that he will be very glad of your company in his family, by
which all inconveniences of that kind will be obviated. I shall think myself very happy to form an
acquaintance with a person so universally esteemed, and shall use every opportunity of assuring you how
much I am, Sir, your most obedient servant.
"Robert Orme, Aid-de-camp." ...]
I find myself much embarrass'd with my Affairs; having no person in whom I can confide, to entrust the management with. Yet, under these disadvantages and circumstances, I am determined to do myself the honour of accompanying you with this proviso only, that the General will be kind enough to permit my return, so soon as the [ ? ] or grand Affair is over, (if desir'd). Or, if there should be any space of inaction long enough to admit of a visit (for otherwise I coud by no means obtain my own consent, what ever private losses I might sustain) to endulge me therein and I need not add, how much I should be obliged by joining at Wills Creek only,79 for this the General has kindly promised. These things Sir, however unwarrantable they may appear at first sight, I hope will not be taken amiss when its consider'd how unprepar'd I am at present to quit a Family, and Estate scarcely settled, and in the utmost confusion.80
[Note 79: In reply Captain Orme wrote: "The general orders me to give you his compliments and to assure you his wishes are to make it agreeable to yourself and consistent with your affairs, and, therefore, he desires you will so settle your business at home as to join him at Will's Creek if more convenient to you; and, whenever you find it necessary to return, he begs you will look upon yourself as entirely master, and judge what is proper to be done."]
[Note 80: Lawrence Washington's estate, which included, of course, Mount Vernon. From 1755 on, for several years, Washington paid a yearly rent for Mount Vernon to Col. George Lee, who had married Lawrence Washington's widow, Ann Fairfax.]
... {excerpt ends}
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